Buenos Aires: El Caminito

Perhaps the most colorful part of the already colorful La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Caminito has become one of the Argentine capital’s top attractions. Once a landfill and the shame of the area, it was revitalized by Benito Quinquela Martin, an artist who lived in the area. The iconic pastel colors are a result of several years of work by the artist, transforming it to the world-renowned street it is today.

The whole of El Caminito is an open-air museum, with a variety of knickknacks and oddities. Before you even enter, prominent caricatured figures like Eva Peron, Diego Maradona wave at you from the balconies. The splashes of color are ubiquitous, both visible and intangible. Sure, you can see all of the bright colors draping the houses, balconies, art galleries, and so on.

However, El Caminito itself is believed by some to have been one of the origins of the tango. It is named after a famous tango song and although a bit of a tourist trap, tango dancers dot the area and put on a show for the visitors. For a tip, you can even join them as their dance partner. They’ll show you the steps so you don’t actually need to be a tango extraordinaire but I also highly recommend tango lessons while in Buenos Aires. One lesson is enough to convince people that you know what you’re doing.

El Caminito is something one should definitely visit while in Buenos Aires. The city is full of life, passion, and vibrance. Nowhere else encapsulates that passion like El Caminito.